The club was noisy and overcrowded. In a corner just off the dance floor stood the three women from work. Maria wore her trademark black, but tonight in the form of a cocktail dress. Natasha had opted for a figure hugging grey number whilst Tessa wore a emerald green shift. The three women were already on their second bucket of margaritas, contemplating their third and the night was still young. They clinked glasses for the unpteenth time that night and drank lengthily from each one.
"Alright Tessa what's new? There must be someone in your life? Giving you a...thorough...physical?" Maria laughed at her own terrible joke, before sipping the potent cocktail again. Maria was another Beta and didn't fully understand what happened to Omega's.
Tessa chuckled alongside her friend and covered her pain well. Despite being slightly tipsy she wasn't drunk enough to confess she hadn't dated anyone since she broke up from Simon. Or to be honest still felt burned by him.
Simon Turner was a fellow psychiatrist, a Beta and a talented man whom had worked with her when she first joined Stark Industries. However he was ambitious, over confident and cocky. His aspirations coupled with severe jealousy of Tessa's successes drove a wedge between them. They still saw each other professionally, but Simon had made it clear that he held no regard for Tessa personally.
The doctor tried to deflect her friends stares by turning on Natasha,
"Wait what about you and Dr. Banner?I thought you were sweet on him?"
"I'm pretty sure that ship has sailed!" The agent replied sarcastically.
"Nooo!" Maria whined as she stamped her foot.
"Well you know if it's not meant to be, it's not meant to be." Natasha surmised sipping her drink.
"You seemed so perfect for one another. The ying to his yang." Tessa continued, silently relieved that the attention was off her.
"Can we not talk about this? I thought this was girls night?" Natasha whined.
"It is?! Look I have a cocktail in my hand and I'm talking smack about guys with my girls. What more do you want?" Maria quipped.
"The truth about you and Rhodey?" Natasha jibed back then stared her friend down.
"You're right we should quit whilst we're ahead. Do you wanna dance?"
Maria grabbed her purse and began to leave the table when she spotted two faces she recognised entering the club.
"What is this?!" I thought we agreed no men tonight?" The agent gestured towards Steve and Bucky.
"Don't look at me I didn't invite them?" Natasha defended herself. "Did you?" She asked Tessa.
"No!"
"What do you think they're doing here? I wouldn't have thought this was really their scene." Romanoff continued.
"Maybe some kind of research? Modern day social construct into courting?" Tessa hypothesized, only half serious.
"Okay, you clearly haven't had enough to drink if you can put that sentence together. Or I have had too much, because it kinda made sense."
"Only one way to find out." Maria said determinedly. "Rogers, Barnes what are you doing here?"
"Ladies! Having a good night?" Steve asked politely just before he eyed their bucket of margaritas, "Ooh a very good night it would seem!" He answered himself.
"Don't sidestep the question, what are you doing here?" Maria said as she poked his chest.
"We heard about this place from Rhodey, we thought it was worth a look?" Steve said defensively.
"Rhodey?!" Natasha and Tessa chorused.
Maria inwardly cringed as they shrieked.
"Don't worry we won't bother you." Bucky explained, "We'll go to the bar and leave you in peace." The sober man looked at Tessa when he said this trying to gauge her response.
"Well you're here now and our bucket is empty, sooo," Natasha suggested unsubtly.
Rogers laughed and even Bucky allowed himself a small chuckle.
"Sure thing. Same again?"
"Yes!" The three women cheered.
Steve left in the direction of the bar taking Maria with him. This left Bucky, Natasha and Tessa standing in uncomfortable silence, though Natasha eventually followed her colleagues towards the bar to help carry the drinks. After their earlier conversation she believed Bucky was interested in the Doctor and thought best to leave them alone. She knew the shy Doctor would never make the first move, but their status' as a natural pair might just do the trick.
Tessa sipped on her cocktail and looked around the room, searching for anything to distract her attention. The young Doctor had made it a point not to socialise with any of her clients before. It wasn't unethical strictly speaking, but the Omega in her knew that it wasn't a good idea to fraternize with hot-blooded Alphas.
Bucky broke the ice awkwardly.
"Are you having fun Doc?"
"Uh, huh." She replied nonchalantly.
"Do you come here often?"
Tessa looked at the embarrassed soldier a mixture of shock and hilarity and both laughed at his bad attempt at conversation. As Bucky laughed he ran a shaky hand over the back of his neck.
"Sorry, it's been a while."
"Tell me about it."
Tessa cringed inwardly at her confession. Damn her Omega genes. The level headed woman was so adept at keeping a lid on her emotions that vaporizers, good hygiene and suppressants were usually enough. However in the hot, sweaty confines of the club the young woman allowed her basic instincts to overrule her, just for a second. If Bucky hadn't of rubbed his neck , glancing over his spot she wouldn't have got a whiff of his scent. His aroma surprised her, bergamot, tarragon, nutmeg and musk. It was lighter than she had thought it would be, but still implied a high level of testosterone and ruggedness. Bucky smirked at her discomfort and yet found it endearing. It had been so long since he had been with an Omega and therefore understood her natural response to his scent. His years spent in cryo sleep as an asset of Hydra had weakened his senses and urges, whilst his recuperation in Wakanda and subsequent treatment had awoken them. He was not yet back to his full Alpha stamina and therefore as susceptible to a females scent, however he would be lying if he said this Omega didn't have some effect on him.
"So," The Doctor attempted to continue and deflect the conversation before they were interrupted by the group returning from the bar.
Maria was reading a message on her phone and smiled at what was on the screen.
"I'm sorry guys but I need to go." The agent dropped some cash on the table and began to say her goodbyes.
"Its 11.30? Who could possibly be more interesting than us at this time?" Tessa asked.
Natasha wiggled her eyebrows knowingly. "One word...bootay!"
Tessa caught on and as Maria walked away they both shouted,
"Say hello to Rhodey!"
The pair cackled wickedly but stopped when they saw the confused expressions on their company's faces.
Steve boldly asked, "Booty?!"
"I'll explain grandpa." Natasha linked the captain's arm and took him to a nearby sofa.
Tessa and Bucky were left alone once more and thankfully had a drink to diffuse the tension. As they stared blankly at one another the music suddenly changed. The unmistakable and energetic opening bars to "Shape of you" by Ed Sheeran blasted out over the clubs sounds system. Bucky's face lit up. Tessa watched him with interest and quizzed him with a quirk of an eyebrow.
"I actually know this!" He said chuffed.
"Do you want to dance?"
Without thought the intoxicated Tessa agreed. They made their way to the middle of the dance floor and it became blatantly obvious how out of touch the soldier was. Bucky tried to hold Tessa by the waiste and hand, she didn't mind but quickly removed them and pointed out what the other couples were doing. Bucky was embarrassed for a second time that night and ran a nervous hand through his hair. He calmed when he saw Tessa's generous smile and allowed her to take the lead. He watched her feet and began to copy moving to the beat. He liked the way she swayed her hips to the music, he was transfixed as they moved from side to side hypnotically.
The tall man took one of her hands and spun her around just like he would have done in the forties. Tessa giggled coquettishly and allowed him to swing her around. Before she knew it Bucky had turned her around and they were swaying from side to side, her back flush to his chest whilst his hands covered hers at her waist. As if in a trance and on auto pilot, Tessa bent her head to the side as she felt the strong man nuzzle his face into her neck. He breathed her in deeply and realised from their dancing how her scent had multiplied and was now filling his mind and thoughts. He opened his mouth slowly and his breath hitched as he realised what he was about to do.
Sensing his response Tessa faltered in her steps and pushed away from the intoxicating man. Her patient. Yes they were almost colleagues, and there was nothing wrong with co-workers enjoying a night out together. But Bucky was currently under her care and merely by being here, could compromise her assessment of him. She quickly feigned exhaustion and excused herself from the dance floor, heading outside to the fresh air.
Ever the gentleman Bucky followed her from the club, much to her chagrin. The cold night air hit the doctor hard making her head spin. Though Tessa was grateful for the reprieve the clean air gave her. She wrapped her arms around her futilely to keep warm and sensing her discomfort Bucky immediately began to remove his jacket.
"No please, don't do that?" Tessa pleaded.
Bucky stared in confusion but slipped his jacket back onto his thick shoulders.
"Is everything alright?" He asked cautiously. The Alpha in him could sense her distress although he couldn't understand why, but the man in him was confused not only at his behaviour towards the female but her response to his advances.
"Yeah everything's fine. I just need to find a cab and go home." She lied.
"What's wrong?"
Fortunately a cab rolled up to the pavement, saving her from responding. Tessa opened the door swiftly, climbed inside and told the driver where she wanted to go without another glance at Bucky.
